In very general terms, there are three basic plans used. You must be able to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in serious dire straits taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better places for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!